NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) -The Bahamas government says human rights expert and attorney, Marion Bethel, has been elected commissioner of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).

The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Bethel was elected during the 55th Organisation of American States (OAS) General Assembly that was held in Antigua and Barbuda late last week and that she will serve in the position from 2026 to 2029.

“Ms Bethel is a globally recognized advocate for the rights of Bahamian and Caribbean women and girls, with extensive experience in human rights law, being a practicing attorney since 1986,” Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusa Ali, said in a social media post congratulating Bethel on her position.

Bethel served on the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) for two terms and was elected to the position of vice-chairperson and rapporteur in 2023.

Ali noted that in addition to Bethel’s legal work on women’s issues, she also directed an award-winning documentary, “Womanish Ways: Freedom, Human Rights & Democracy”, which highlighted the Bahamian women’s suffrage movement and has been featured in numerous international poetry and film festivals.

The IACHR is an autonomous body of the OAS whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area.

The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly who serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.